Fundamental rights
The Constitution of 4 June 2003 as revised in 2015 declares that everyone has the right to life and that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of it (art. 12), that a human being is sacred and inviolable (art. 13), that everyone has the right to physical and mental integrity and that no one shall be subjected to torture, physical abuse or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (art. 14), that all persons are equal before the law (art. 15) and that discrimination based on, among other grounds, sex, family or ancestry, religion, economic status or disability is prohibited and punishable (art. 16). Article 23 protects the privacy of a person, family, home and correspondence, art. 29 guarantees due process and art. 41 allows limits provided by law for respect of others' rights, public morals, public order and social welfare.
The Constitution also fixes the framework for couples and families. Article 17 guarantees the right to marry and found a family, says that a civil monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is the only recognised marital union, recognises a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman contracted outside Rwanda in accordance with the law of the country of celebration, requires the free and full consent of each person and gives spouses equal rights and obligations at the time of marriage, during the marriage and at divorce. Article 18 puts the family under State protection and makes both parents responsible for raising children, and art. 25 states that dual nationality is permitted, that no one can be deprived of Rwandan nationality of origin and that all persons of Rwandan origin and their descendants are entitled to Rwandan nationality on request. Article 10(4) commits the State to equality of men and women, affirmed by women occupying at least 30% of positions in decision-making organs.
Enforcement runs through the courts and a national institution. Article 43 makes the judiciary 'the guardian of human rights and freedoms', and art. 42 entrusts the promotion of human rights particularly to the National Commission for Human Rights, which 'is independent'. The Commission's website cites Law n° 19/2013 of 25/03/2013 modified by Law n° 61/2018 of 24/08/2018 as its legal basis; its mandate includes monitoring respect for human rights, especially those of children, women, persons with disabilities, people living with HIV/AIDS, refugees, migrant workers and the elderly, receiving, examining and investigating complaints, visiting places of detention and monitoring human rights during elections. Parliament's bill page lists a newer draft law governing the Commission as 'enacted into law', aligned with the Paris Principles and extending its role to internally displaced persons, without giving a number or date. For 2023/2024 the Commission told Parliament on 30 October 2024 that it had examined 573 complaints (55 carried over from 2022/2023), resolved 432 of them (75.4%), and that the largest categories concerned the right to justice (164, or 28.6%) and the right to property (147, or 25.6%).
Treaty ratifications, with dates from the United Nations Treaty Collection unless stated: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (accession, 16 April 1975); the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (accession, 16 April 1975); the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (signed 1 May 1980, ratified 2 March 1981); the Convention on the Rights of the Child (signed 26 January 1990, ratified 24 January 1991); the Maputo Protocol on the rights of women in Africa (signed 19 December 2003, ratified 25 June 2004, deposited 1 July 2004, according to the University of Pretoria's tracker). The 2026 UN compilation table also lists the Convention against Torture (2008), its Optional Protocol (2015) and the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on the abolition of the death penalty (2008; 15 December 2008 in the University of Minnesota's archived table), and lists the first Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on individual complaints among the instruments Rwanda has not ratified. The recitals of Law N° 21/2016 add that the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child was ratified by Presidential Order n° 11/01 of 30 May 2001.
The death penalty is abolished. Article 2 of Organic Law N° 31/2007 of 25/07/2007 says 'the death penalty is hereby abolished'; art. 3 substitutes life imprisonment or life imprisonment with special provisions in every earlier text, and art. 4, in its 2007 wording, defines the latter as a sentence without mercy, conditional release or rehabilitation unless at least 20 years have been served, served in isolation. Under art. 60 of the Penal Code as amended in 2023, a judge who accepts mitigating circumstances may reduce a life sentence to no less than 15 years.
Key points
| Constitution | Of 4 June 2003, revised in 2015; rights in arts 12 to 43; life art. 12, integrity and ban on torture art. 14, privacy art. 23 |
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| Marriage | Only a civil monogamous marriage between a man and a woman is recognised; one contracted abroad under the law of the place is recognised (art. 17) |
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| Nationality | Dual nationality permitted; nationality of origin cannot be removed (art. 25) |
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| Guardian of rights | The judiciary (art. 43); the National Commission for Human Rights is independent (art. 42) |
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| Commission's complaints, 2023/2024 | 573 examined, 432 resolved (75.4%); toll-free 3430 |
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| Death penalty | Abolished by Organic Law N° 31/2007 of 25/07/2007 (art. 2) |
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| CEDAW | Signed 1 May 1980; ratified 2 March 1981 |
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| Convention on the Rights of the Child | Signed 26 January 1990; ratified 24 January 1991 |
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| Maputo Protocol | Signed 19 December 2003; ratified 25 June 2004; deposited 1 July 2004 |
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In practice
- To complain about a violation of rights, contact the National Commission for Human Rights: toll-free 3430, info@cndp.org.rw, or in person at KG 201 St, Kigali.
- To obtain a remedy for a violation, go to the courts: art. 43 of the Constitution makes the judiciary the guardian of human rights and freedoms.
- For a couple married abroad, art. 17 recognises a monogamous marriage between a man and a woman contracted outside Rwanda in accordance with the law of the country of celebration; a Rwandan keeps Rwandan nationality of origin even if another nationality is acquired (art. 25).
- For violence and abuse, use the Rwanda Investigation Bureau lines 3512, 116 and 3029 described in the pages on violence and consent.
Recent changes
The 2026 UN compilation tables for Rwanda record concluding observations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in May 2024 and of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in February 2025, and Rwanda's fifth report to the Human Rights Committee pending consideration.
Where to go
- National Commission for Human Rights, KG 201 St, Kigali; toll-free 3430; info@cndp.org.rw.
- Gender Monitoring Office, KN 5 Rd 12, Gishushu, Kigali; toll-free 5798.
- Rwanda Investigation Bureau, KN5 Rd, Kamukina, Kigali; hotlines 166, 3512, 116 and 3029.
Worth knowing
The Commission's own website cites Law n° 19/2013 as modified in 2018, while Parliament's bill page presents a newer law on the Commission as 'enacted into law' without a number, date or gazette reference, so its passage is reported but its entry into force is not established; check the Official Gazette before relying on either text for the Commission's powers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the death penalty abolished in Rwanda?
Yes: art. 2 of Organic Law N° 31/2007 of 25 July 2007 says the death penalty is abolished, and art. 3 replaces it with life imprisonment or life imprisonment with special provisions.
Does Rwanda allow dual nationality?
Yes: art. 25 of the Constitution states that dual nationality is permitted and that no one can be deprived of Rwandan nationality of origin.
Where can I complain about a human rights violation?
To the National Commission for Human Rights (toll-free 3430, info@cndp.org.rw), whose mandate includes receiving, examining and investigating complaints, or to the courts, which art. 43 of the Constitution makes the guardian of human rights and freedoms.
Sources
- Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 4 June 2003 with amendments through 2015 (Constitute Project text) — arts 10, 12 to 19, 23, 25, 29, 41 to 43
- National Commission for Human Rights (CNDP) -- 'Human Rights Protection': legal basis, mandate and contacts — legal basis, mandate, toll-free 3430, email and address
- National Commission for Human Rights, 'The Commission presented its annual report before the Parliament' (30 October 2024) — report to Parliament of 30 October 2024: complaints of 2023/2024
- Parliament of Rwanda -- 'Draft law governing the National Commission for Human Rights' (bill page) — newer draft law on the Commission listed as enacted
- Organic Law N° 31/2007 of 25/07/2007 relating to the abolition of the death penalty (Official Gazette Special of 25/07/2007) -- publication copy by Laws.Africa — arts 2 to 4
- Law N° 059/2023 of 04/12/2023 amending Law N° 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general, Official Gazette Special of 05/12/2023 -- gazette copy archived by Gazettes.Africa — art. 2: art. 60 of the Penal Code as amended
- Law N° 21/2016 of 20/05/2016 relating to human reproductive health, Official Gazette n° 23 of 06/06/2016 -- gazette copy published by Laws.Africa — recitals on treaty ratification orders
- United Nations Treaty Collection -- Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, participants — Rwanda: signature 1 May 1980, ratification 2 March 1981
- United Nations Treaty Collection -- Convention on the Rights of the Child, participants — Rwanda: signature 26 January 1990, ratification 24 January 1991
- United Nations Treaty Collection -- International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, participants — Rwanda: accession 16 April 1975
- United Nations Treaty Collection -- International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, participants — Rwanda: accession 16 April 1975
- University of Minnesota Human Rights Library -- Ratification of international human rights treaties: Rwanda (archived 1 February 2023) — Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR: 15 December 2008
- UN Human Rights Council, tables for the UN compilation on Rwanda (A/HRC/WG.6/51/RWA/2, Annex E, 2026): ratified international human rights treaties — list of ratified treaties and years; instruments not ratified; reporting status
- University of Pretoria -- Maputo Protocol country status: Rwanda — signed 19 December 2003, ratified 25 June 2004, deposited 1 July 2004
- Gender Monitoring Office (GMO) -- official website: toll-free line, complaint forms, address — toll-free 5798 and address
- Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) -- contact page: hotlines, headquarters, opening hours — hotlines and address
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